Nearly 100 people have gathered today to remember the 14 people killed when a viewing platform collapsed on the South Island’s West Coast 30 years ago.
Thirteen students and a Department of Conservation officer fell 40-metres to their deaths when the platform overlooking Cave Creek gave way on April 28, 1995. Four other students survived with serious injuries.
An inquiry into the disaster highlighted 12 major problems with the platform which had been poorly designed and constructed by the Department of Conservation and “highly unsafe” with large numbers of people on it.
Failures included qualified engineers not being involved in the design, approval, or construction phase; nails, rather than bolts, being used to secure the platform as no drill was brought to the site; and a sign ordering a maximum limit of five people being ordered but not installed.
Legislation was eventually amended to bring government departments under the Building Act following the tragedy, meaning they could be held criminally liable in similar cases of any future negligence.
Today, a private ceremony was held at the beginning of a new track in Paparoa National Park to memorialise the disaster.
Fleur Pawsey, the younger sister of Kit who died, told those gathered she appreciated the changes DOC had made following the incident.
“With the sadness, I have this equal amount of gratitude, and a sense of peace that it hasn’t meant nothing.
“We can go out to the outdoors, we can feel safe in the facilities we’re using, we’ll always have that and that’s their gift to us.”
Sam Lucas and Stephen Hannen both fell and survived but could not remember the incident.
“It’s really blown me away just how raw some of this still is, even 30 years on,” said Lucas, who has lived in the United Kingdom for more than a decade.
“Coming back to New Zealand… you’re reminded of how it is with you everyday.”
Hannen was paralysed from his injuries and now uses a wheelchair.
He told 1News it was “surreal” to be back at Cave Creek.
“It’s amazing to see so many people here today. [The injury] changed my life completely, but you build your life around what you can do.”
Rod Davis, father of Jody who was killed, said he tended to come back to Cave Creek every five years to remember his son.
“It’s a stunning place, it’s a bit of an irony, it’s so incredibly beautiful and yet it’s so full of tragedy, so it is mixed emotions. I can see why he enjoyed being here, as with the other students.”
The process of the inquiry had forged a strong bond between survivors and families of those killed, he said.
“It’s the fact that you’re dealing with a whole, in this case, a government department — everyone was running for cover, no one really wanted to put their hand up, which makes it really hard from a victim’s point of view.”
Leanne Wheeler, one of the students who did not fall and helped with rescue, told those gathered that she viewed her life through the lens of Cave Creek.
“Thirty years ago, at this time, on a day very similar to this, we were just amongst broken bodies and broken lives, and none of you guys knew about it at that point.”
For Wheeler, the incident had shaped her entire outlook on life. She said it had taught her “grief and joy co-exist”.
“There is such beauty in holding grief and hardship and suffering and joy together in the same hand.”
‘Incredibly humbled’ — DOC director-general
Department of Conservation director-general Penny Nelson also attended the memorial and said she was “incredibly humbled” to have walked alongside survivors and families to hear the reflections and stories on what happened 30 years ago.
“They were excited, curious, and just beginning an adventure out in nature. It was supposed to be a low-risk field trip and DOC let you down,” she told the crowd.
“We didn’t manage, inspect, or control our visitor assets properly and it will always be a sad chapter in our history which we have learned so much from.”
Nelson said she sent her aroha to the whānau and friends of those who lost their lives at Cave Creek.
“It’s a really difficult time and losing a child in this way is something no parent should ever have to endure.”
